How to write a CV when you want to change careers

Looking for a career change? Here’s what you need to know to write a great CV.

Do you dread Mondays? Has your current nine-to-five job got you down in the dumps? Perhaps there’s a role you’ve always lusted after but never quite had the confidence to go for. Or maybe you’re just looking for a new challenge. Whatever the reason, you may find yourself thinking that you want to change directions on your career path and pursue something totally new. It’s time to change careers!

The job search can be particularly intimidating when changing careers because you may think that you don’t have the right experience. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere when they switch professions. It’s about showing your potential. So, if you’re starting fresh in a whole new field, you’re going to need to sell yourself like never before. Here’s how you can write the ultimate change-of-career CV.

Research this new industry

How much do you know about the industry in which you’re applying? You may think you want a job in marketing, but do you fully understand what that entails? It’s time to do some much-needed research. If you want to write a stellar CV that fits the bill, you need to be well-versed in the duties of the role and what you will be doing on a day-to-day basis.

When you’re writing a change-of-career CV, it’s absolutely essential that you show an interest in your new path. Peppering it with industry-specific jargon may be laying it on a little thick, but you should make it obvious that you understand the career path. By simply highlighting skills and experience that pertain to the role, you can do just that.

Include any volunteer work

Of course, it’s a smart move to gain some voluntary experience in the industry you hope to enter. You’re likely to be up against candidates who have been working in this sphere for a number of years, and so you really need to do something to make your career-change CV shine. Before you start applying for roles, taking on a little volunteer work could be enough to set you apart from the crowd.

Remember, when including this volunteer work on your CV, positioning is everything. You may want to include it in a section right above your traditional work experience. Doing so means you have the very best shot at a recruiter noticing it. Plus, the fact that you’ve given your time for free to learn about the sector is sure to win you some brownie points.

Highlight transferable skills

Recruiters spend between five and seven seconds looking at each CV they receive. That doesn’t give you much time to sell yourself. With that in mind, the last thing you want to do is overwhelm a recruiter with information that simply won’t land you an interview. Instead, you need to highlight your transferable skills ‒ the talents you already have that show you can fulfill the job requirements.

For instance, if you’re applying for a role in the journalism sector, but only have admin experience, you should look for duties that overlap. In previous roles, you may have been responsible for taking notes, writing emails and researching various topics. Believe it or not, you can take all of the above are skills forward in your new career. Take the time to identify any areas of crossover and ensure that they stand out on your CV.

Downplay irrelevant experience

In the same vein, you should seriously downplay any irrelevant experience. When it comes to listing your skills, avoid things that have absolutely nothing to do with the job for which you’re applying right now. For example, you may have a wealth of experience in accounting, but that just won’t help you bag a job in the digital marketing field.

While it may feel tempting to include every single skill you have acquired over the years, doing so could be a recipe for disaster. The recruiter should not have to wade through reams of text to get to the point. No, a career-change CV should be clear and concise. The key here is to wow the recruiter with the information that aligns with the job role.

Include a cover letter

Since a massive four out of 10 recruiters disregard applications without cover letters, you should always include one whenever you apply for a new role. However, in this particular case, what you write in the letter could be the key to getting an interview.

When a recruiter looks at your CV, it’s going to be pretty obvious that you’re in the midst of a career change. The lack of relevant experience and qualifications will stick out like a sore thumb there’s no getting around that. That’s why you need a chance to explain yourself and set out your rationale for the sudden switch in direction.

Within your letter, be sure to lay out the reasoning behind your career change and why you believe you can take on the role for which you’re applying. The passion that you have for the industry should be at the heart of what you write here, so make sure it comes through. Explain what has drawn you to this particular career, what you know about the sector and why you believe that you are the perfect fit.

Conclusion

The idea of writing a change-of-career CV may seem intimidating at first, but it needn’t. While you may not have oodles of experience in your chosen sector, you can still show off your passion and transferable skills.

Have faith in the talents you’ve acquired in previous roles and highlight how they may be used in this new industry. Should you pull that off, you’ll have a great chance at landing that all-important interview. Good luck!